What to read after Going Away?

Usually immigrants leave their native land to seek a better life elsewhere, and their successes are remembered. Ludwig Karl Ritter and Greta Adele Ritter, a married couple, and their three children left Germany in 1906 and settled in California. Their life in the United States was not altogether successful.

The Ritters’ hope was to become rich, and Ludwig’s and Greta’s sojourn in this country began pleasantly enough. But a rift between them began.

The Ritters’ desire for land took them to the San Joaquin Valley. With no background in farming, they established an orchard, learned to manage livestock, and built the family house. The personal costs of acquisition were great, for now there were twelve children, overwhelming work, crop failures, and costly mistakes with farm animals. Ludwig was strengthened by adversity. Greta became cynical and prayed to return to Germany; she felt isolated and overpowered by the many problems that the children presented.

The thoughts and emotions and changes of attitude carried forth in the letters easily trace the changes in the minds of the couple and the direction these two individuals took in this dramatic story. Their lack of success and their harsh experiences in California constitute the tension in Going Away—going away from their native land and eventually from each other.